Sunday School Lessons: Acts 1 Pt. 2

 

Lesson 3 

The Ascension and the Promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:9-11)

9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
 10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

Vs. 9:  “cloud hid him from their sight”
    The people watched Him go.  They “saw”
Vs. 10:  While they were watching 2 angels appeared.
    Angels are God’s messengers.
Vs. 11  Their Message
    This same Jesus
        Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever
    “who has been taken from you into heaven”
        Jesus went to Heaven.  He is alive there with His body
    “will come back”
        Jesus is going to return to this earth someday
    “in the same way you have seen him go into heaven”
This same Jesus will return from heaven to earth at the same place in the same way. 

(Zech 14:4) On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. (Acts 1:12 tells us that Jesus ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives.)

1 Thessalonians 4:13Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Waiting for the Spirit:  Acts 1:12-15

12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. 13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
 15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty)

Vs. 12:  They returned to Jerusalem (review Acts 1:8)
    A Sabbath’s journey was about 1 mile.
Vs. 13  Who was there? A list of some of the believers who went into the upper room to wait for the Spirit.    
Peter
    John
    James
    Andrew
    Philip
    Thomas
    Bartholomew
    Matthew
    James
    Simon
    Judas
    Mary
    Other women
    Jesus’ brothers
 

What were they doing?
They were praying together.  They were in one accord.  The women were meeting together with the men.
Disciples-learners (120)  these are believers
Apostles-representatives/leaders (12) these are leaders, chosen and sent by Jesus.
Vs.15 Peter stood up
    Peter was the spokesman.
Apostles Appointed (Acts 1:16-26)

"Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus— 17he was one of our number and shared in this ministry."
 18(With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
 20"For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms,
   " 'May his place be deserted;
      let there be no one to dwell in it,' and,
   " 'May another take his place of leadership.' 21Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."
 23So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." 26Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

 Vs. 16- 18(With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out.
    Re: Judas the Betrayer
    Judas’ role as the betrayer was foretold and fore-ordained
God is Sovereign, even in the betrayal of Jesus.  We’ll talk more about this in the next chapter.
Vs. 19-20  more about Judas
    He was to be replaced by another
Vs. 21-22    2 men nominated
    Qualifications
        They were with Jesus and the disciples for the entire time
        They witnessed His ascension
Vs. 23-26  Joseph and Matthias
    They prayed
    They cast lots
    Matthias was chosen
Matthias is never mentioned in scripture again.  Paul is considered the 12th apostle and the one who replaced Judas.  How do we know this?

Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead

Review conclusions of Gospels:
    Matthew—resurrection
    Mark—ascension
    Luke—promis of the Holy Spirit
    John—promise of His second coming.
All these are present in the first chapter of the book of Acts—a bridge from the Gospels to the Church.

*These lessons are written for use with elementary aged students.  You can find lessons for previous chapters here.